Abstract: In the past, it was not uncommon for a major league baseball manager to also be one of the players of the team. Today, these positions are so specialized that this practice no longer occurs. However, modern organizations are increasingly moving in the direction of the old baseball team model, having senior leaders also “playing” in operational roles. I refer to this phenomenon as the “John McGraw duality,” in honor of a player/manager, who for eight seasons, managed a team to a World Series championship and also played at a level where he led the league in on-base-percentage three times. John McGraw (1873-1934) had a skill set that allowed him to be a very successful leader. His team depended on him for his individual expertise on the field and at the plate. As we plunge further into the twenty-first century, the role of senior leader continues to change and evolve.